The Fight: A Practical Handbook to Christian Living (Paperback)

by John White (Author) "When you became a Christian, a number of extremely important events took place both in heaven and in your own body..." (more)
Key Phrases: Holy Spirit, New Testament, God's Word (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
John White's handbook for Christian living covers prayer, fellowship, Bible study, evangelism, work and more.

Product Details

• Paperback: 230 pages
• Publisher: InterVarsity Press (June 1976)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877847770
• ISBN-13: 978-0877847779
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #176,338 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A quarter century and still going strong..., November 19, 2002

By	Daniel L Edelen (Mt. Orab, OH USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The best recommendation one can give for John White's "The Fight" simply comes in its longevity in the marketplace. Christian books go out of print like mad, but the classic ones go on and on. The main reason for this is timelessness, and White's primer on how to start one's Christian walk is as appropriate today as it was when first released.

One of three books I recommend to every new Christian (Lewis' "Mere Christianity" and Ortiz's "Disciple" being the other two), this book is so chock full of basics that it even works as a book for people who are just beginning to seek the Lord. In "The Fight" are found the core parts of the daily Christian life (summarized here as): Prayer, Listening to God, Sharing the Faith, The Devil, Faith, One's Standing in Christ, Holiness, God's Will, Christian Excellence, and the Battle Around Us.

White's background as a psychologist comes through as many of his illustrations have a profundity that comes from understanding the foibles of humanity, while also avoiding the pitfall of framing everything within psychology's constructs rather than Christianity's (a problem with many Christian books today.) He also brings clarity to difficult issues that every man and woman struggle with in life, shining the light of Christ into even the darkest areas. His insights into topics like lust are so exemplary that I continue to use them when teaching today, since I have never found better explanations that are so human and yet so spiritually astute at the same time.

A must for any new Christian, I have routinely given people this book for a baptism gift, so useful is it for starting the journey.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Christian book in the world?, November 30, 1999

By	junioR (Oslo, Norway) - See all my reviews

Yes, at least in my book. (Pun intended.) At least among the top all-time ten in Christian literature. A complete, well-balanced and powerful guide to the ins and outs of Christian life, this is the perfect introduction for a newborn believer (yes, do give it as a gift!) and it can make a grizzled old veteran in the wars of life (like myself) cry (real tears) and even laugh out loud (even on a public bus, once...). I've read it at least four times, maybe more, and it moves me every time. I've got three copies on my bookshelves, except when they're out on loan to others. And now that I've found I can buy it at Amazon (haven't found it in my local Christian bookstore lately), I'll start giving it away as a gift again... Especially to young people. As a gift for confirmation, for example. (I sure wish this book had been available when I was fifteen...) As to content, the book (at least in my quite early editions) is divided into 11 sections: Beginnings, Prayer, God still speaks, On being a signpost, His Infernal Majesty, Faith, Changed relationships, Guidance, Holiness, Deliverance from drudgery, and The fight. If you haven't read it, by all means do! If you have read it, buy another one and give it away!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to the Christian life, April 20, 2007

By	M. Randles - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

John White offers sound insights into living the Christian life. It is written for those have just made a commitment to Christ and need direction for their next steps. But I have been a believer for 25 years and found his thoughts to be helpful and refreshing. Some content is a bit out of date (e.g. his discussion of available Bible translations), but aside from such minor defects, it is a solid work. I recommend this often to people at my church.